'Southern Arabia, by Theodore Bent, F.R.G.S., F.S.A., Author of 'The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland' 'The Sacred City of the Ethiopians' 'The Cyclades, Or Life Among the Insular Greeks' etc. and Mrs Theodore Bent' [‎321] (378/552)

'DANCING ON TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND' 321
in the middle. This is put under a tree over a hole, the
noose of a long rope laid round it and the rope tied to the
tree ; the whole is covered with earth. When the gazelle
comes to eat he steps into the hole. By the time he has
disengaged himself from the trap he is caught in the noose,
and a cross stick, 3 or 4 feet long, tied about a foot from
the end of the rope, prevents him getting through bushes.
A short time before reaching our goal we were met by a
small band of natives, who tried to stop our advance with
menaces, which we were determined neither to understand
nor recognise. Possibly they were some of the Kilab tribe,
who owned allegiance to the Dervishes; possibly they were
actuated by the inherent dread the Moslem has of Christian
enterprise reaching their secluded vales. However, our
show of firearms and determination to go on had the effect
of intimidating them, and after a somewhat feeble hostile
demonstration and many palavers, we found ourselves
comfortably established in our tents in the heart of the
ancient industry, and peacefully distributing medicines from
our chest to our whilom foes.
The encounter was amusing to look back on afterwards,
but by no means so at the time ; the yelling and brandishing
of spears and shields and the parleying of Hassan Bafori and
Mohammed Ali Hamid, who went forward, and the earnest
wishes for the presence of Sheikh Ali Debalohp, who had gone
round by his home to join us later. We and our camels were
led back, but we dismounted and went nearer in a body, and
then our firearms were distributed, and my husband, saying
he would wait no longer, went past them, we all following.
He fortunately knew the way. After a bit our camels came,
and we were soon in the W T adi Gabeit. Knowing where the
water was, in a little rocky pool, my husband went straight
over to it, and ordered that the water-skins should be filled
at once, in case of any difficulties. My husband and I and
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